Silo



oct. 14, 1924. 1,511,467

F. HEATHl SILO Filed Oct. 8'. 1921 :s sheets-sheet 2 Oct. 14 19,24. Y 1,511,467

' F. HEATH SLO Filed 06f..- 8. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Got. 14, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK HEATH, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO HEATH UNIT TILE COMPANY, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON, A. CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON,

SILO.

Application led October 8, 1921.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it lrnown that I, FREDERICK HEATH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of IVashington, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Silos, of which the following is a full, clear7 and eXac-t description7 referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention is directed to improvements in silos and is particularly concerned with that type of structure wherein the walls are of hollow masonry.

In building such silos, the general practice has been to 'construct the circumferential wall of hollow concrete blocks or interlocking tile of various shapes and forms, the wall being reinforced by circular rods placed in the mortar beds. Considerable skill and an undue amount of time is required, however, on the part of the builders to properly assemble the rods in the mortar beds, as the rods frequently are distorted in such a manner that they tend to displace the blocks before they are firmly set in the mortar bed. Some forms of such tile blocks are adapted to have the rods laid in suitable grooves formed therein. Various expedients to overcome these and similar difficulties have been tried but such expedients have been both inc'Hicient and expensive.

The general object of the present invention therefore is to provide a simple and effective silo hollow wall construction whereby such diiliculties of building are eliminated and which is adaptable to a variety of architectural designs in which very marked economies are eected. In accomplishing the above objects I prefer to use hollow tile laid on reinforced horizontal mortar beds; the reinforcement being-in the nature of short metal grids or sheets laid in the mortar beds in overlapping and bonding` relation as the successive courses of tile are set.

A more specific object of my invention is the provision .of a silo construction wherein an outer circumferential wall may present an uninterrupted symmetrical and architectural appearance, while an inner wall, which is bonded with the outer wall may contain the usual elongated filling opening or series of doors, and may serve as a partitle-iA forming-r a eine@ between the walls Serial No. 506,233.

constituting the chute for filling and emptying the silo. To provide an entrance to this chute, a` comparatively small door at the ground level opens through the outer wall, wherefore the inner wall is reinforced and constitutes a chordal continuation of the circumferential reinforcement opposite this door.

Other objects will be hereinafter set forth in connection with the following description which refers to the accompanying drawings and the essential characteristics will lbe summarized in the claims.

In Fig. l I have illustrated the general appearance of a silo wherein my construction is embodied; Fig. 2 is an enlarged crosssectional elevation showing the foundation of the silo and a part o-f the inner and outer wall; Fig. 3 is a section taken in the same plane as Fig. 2 showing the double wall or chute construction at the top of the silo; Fig. I is a cross section taken through the door and the walls of the silo substantially along line 4 4 of Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the silo with the roof removed while Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view similar to F et but taken through the silo w-alls above the outer door head. Fig. 7 is an enlarged View of the three-void block.

As shown in the drawings I build my silo with an uninterrupted outer' wall having only a small door opening at the base. This outer wall may be constructed of voided blocks 1,' short enough that it is not necessary to curve them.

Such a block is illustrated in Fig. 8. The webs and shells of this block are so proportioned as to resist the vertical strains and preferably to develop the full strength of the mortar bed. The individual blocks when in the wall must resist lateral strains due principally to the outward pressure of the contents; therefore, the blocks are perfectly scored providing ribs and grooves indicated at 2 and 3 in Fig. 8. For convenience of illustration, the-se ribs and grooves are omitted in the smaller scale drawings of the other figures. This block is particularly adaptable for constructing the wall of the silo as the voids 8 present annular insulating spaces extending about the. circumference of the wall, which spaces are sealed in the ordinary mortar bonding of the blocks.

The circumferential stresses ,on the Wall los which it is customary to resist by hoops, circumferential rods and the like, are talren care of in my construction by a novel, .sime ple and effective means in the nature of narrow straight strips, short enough to he within the inner and outer peripheries of the Ve'xr'lert lskill on the part of themason as the mortar may be spread a 'sufficient distance lover the preceding course to permit the layingy of two or more strips with the ends 'thereof over-lapping to insure a continuous circumferential bonding of the mortar beds.

It will be noted that in such a wall construction the blocks in the outer wall serve mere lyto support the vertical load while the reinforced mortar beds Vserve to resist the circumferential stresses exerted upon the wall bythe contents of the silo.

The chute is arranged within the outer circumferential wall of the silo and may be formed by an inner straight vwall constructed of single void blocks 11 which are approximately half the width of the three void blocks in the outer wall. rlhis wall extends across the interior of the silo and diagrammatically is in the nature of ra chord of a circle, the outer wall representing the circle. The usual filling opening isprovided in the center of the wall, the opening being sealed by removable doors hereinafter described.

As this divided wall would not have sufficient strength to withstand the pressure of the contents of the silo, transverse reinforcing walls 15 and 16, constituting struts, serve to transmit the load exerted on the inner wall to the outer reinforced wall.

Since the reinforcing characteristics of the i expanded metal strips cannot be obtained in the first ten mortar beds of the outer wall due to the formation of the outer door opening 28, it is important that the ylower part of the inner wall be of such construction that the circumferential strength of these rst ten mota-r beds be maintained Hence by constructing the lower portion of the inner wall of the three void tile, as illustrated in Fig. 2, it is possible to reinforce the mortar beds with expanded metal strings which may bond into the outer wall mortar beds. Hence vthe reinforced inner wall mortar beds are in the nature of the chordal continuations of the cuter wall mortar beds. This inner double wall construction may extend a' few `courses above the outer door and may extend from the double wall.

'construction to the full height of` the structure. may be formed by a special hollow 'jamb tile having vertical voids and which may be of such dimensions that an efiicient bonding The sid'esof the door opening' of the jamb tile'may be obtained. rThis Y yblock may be comprised of a seven voidtile 25 which can be set in alternate courses; the

bond being formed in the intermediate courses by the overlapping of the singlevoid tile, a vportion of the speci-al tile being broken away by the mason to provide for this overlapping as illustrated by the block 24. Since the voids of this tile are vertical it may be used as a 'closure in constructing the transverse walls 15and 16 as illustrated at 26;

the recessed or jamb portion being broken 'ofi'. RemovableI doors 30 may be of a double matched board construction with suitable insulating material, such as tar paper, therebetween. Guide strips 34 may be placed on the outer surface of the door which may abut the ends of thej amb tiles. Incident-,ly the transverse walls yconstitute two sides of the.

chute. The outer extremities of all of the inner walls may be bonded yinto the outer wall as illustrated at 17, 18 and 19; each alternate course of blocks having this interbonding'relation with the outer wall. A single void block 20 may be used in the corllO responding course of the outer wall where the inner walls are bonded therewith. The

final top course of the outer wall maybe l comprised of a special hollow tile 3,7 preferably terra cotta with uniform serrations 38 vformed at the outer edges for architectural effect. Any hollow tile however, of suflicient width to vprovide a proper bearing surface for the roof structure may be used.

rPhe removable doors for sealing the elon- 38 having the ends thereof 'flattened and imbedded in every fourth course of the inner and outer walls. A window 40 may be provided in the outer wall at the top of the chute to permit ventilation into the chute.

rlhe roof may preferably be constructed of concrete in the shape of a canopy or lid which may rest upon the crowning course of the outer wall. The roof may have suitable windows 41 to permit the passage of light into the silage chamber.

A special amb tile may be used toform the outer door opening in the wall which may have the same interbonding characteristic-s as the narrower jamb tile used in forming the elongated door opening in the inner wall. This same tile may be used in forming the door jambs of the manhole 22. Hence the mianhole may be sealed by a suitable. door 27h which may be locked in place by cross bar 27C and eccentric bolt 27d. The cross bar may rest on anchor bands 27e which may be .placed in the mortar beds when the wall is being constructed. The outer door 28 may be of heavy construction somewhat in the nature of a refrigerator door with suitable insulation 28a inserted between the inner and outer door boards. The door may be supported on hinges 28h which may be retained in place by suitable bolts laid in the horizontal mortar beds of the outer wall. A cam latch 28C serves l' to maintain the door in contact with the surfaces of the jamb tile with suflicient pressure to prevent any substantial leakage of air into the bottom of the silo.

Silage is frequently lost duek to freezing on the top or it may dry out to a depth of two or three feet- To prevent this waste l use a cover which may be comprised of a canvas tarpaulin supported by an angular hoop 42 of suiiicient dimensions to be conveniently raised and lowered within the silage chamber by `cables 43 and 44. These cables may be suspended in proper position by suitable sheave members 45 carried by a. block 46 secured to the roof. The lower ends of thel cables may be secured to counter weights 48 and 49 suspended within the enclosed spaces 50 and 51. The combined weight of these counter weights may be equal to the weighit of the covering device so that a slightpull exerted on an operating cable which passes up `and down both sides of t-he wall l5, will c-ause the cover to be lowered and a paying out of this cablewill cause the cover to be raised. A suitable aperture 56 formed in the tarpaulin may be covered by a flap A57. Hence Ithe flap may be folded back to permit light to pass into the sil/age chamber.

The base or foundation of the silo may be ofthe usual concrete formation 9 having a bowl 9a which constitutes the bottom of the silage chamber. The found-ation walls may have annular reenforcing rods l0a positioned therein and near the outer perimeter thereof. An outlet 9C positioned in the bottom of the bowl serves as ya drain for drip-page and moisture settling from the silage.

From the foregoing description of my silo construction, it is evident that no projections, edges, or vcorners are present in the silage chamber. Hence when the walls of the chamber `are coated with cement or water-proofing material, smooth surfaces are presented which may be readily cleaned before each refilling. Likewise, it is evident that the walls of the chute have no projections which would intercept or catch any ofthe silage as the same is thrown through the door and dropped down the chute to the outer door. The base of the chute may be tapered slightly outwardly to permit. the easy removal of any droppings or spilt silage. Furthermore, in my silo it is quite convenient to place a small truck at the bottom of the chute into which the contents of the silo may be directly loaded.

y The structure presents la symmetrical outer appearance and the construction of the walls is such that yarchitectural variations may be made without depreciating from the reenforcing characteristics thereof. Furthermore, it is quite apparent that the structure may be efliciently constructed by any mason of ordinary skill; there being no dove tailed tile or interlocked bars, no lateral or vertical reenforcing rods and no curved blocks present in the structure.

Having thus described my invention, I claim zl. A silo having an outer symmetrical wall composed of hollow blocks rectangular in cross section and reenforcedhorizontal mortar beds, the reinforcement 'comprising expanded metal sheets laid in the mortar beds in overlapping relation, the ver-tical mortar bonds in ea-ch course of tile being such that uninterrupted, annular insulating spaces are present in the wall.

2. In a silo, an outer symmetrical wall composed of hollow blocks in horizontal courses separated by horizontal mortar beds, and reenforcing means in said mortar beds consisting of fiat grid like strips overlapping at their ends.

3. A silo having an outer wall constructed of hollow blocks and -an inner wall extending across one side thereof in the nature of a clhord of a circle, said inner wall having an elongated door opening formed therein, the outer wall having an opening in alignment with said inner wall door opening and positioned below the bottom of said inner door opening.

4. In a silo structure, the combination of an .outer circular wall formed of courses of hollow blocks set on mortar beds having overlapping sheet metal reenforcements, an inner wall having an elongated opening therein and trans-verse'w'alls'having horizontal bedslying'inthe ysame planel as the mortar beds offthe inner and outer wall', the alternate courses of' said transverse walls being interbonded with the alternate courses ofv the inner and outer wall.

5. In a silo structure, thecombinat'ion of an outer circular wall form-ed of courses of voided tile, mortar beds having overlapping metal gridlilre reenforcements, an inner7 wall having an elongated" opening thereiny and transverse walls having'horizontal courses of 'blocksA between the same planes as those of the inner and" outer wall, said transverse walls beingvinterbonded with the inner' and outer wall.'

6. A silo structure wherein there is` an outerl annularv wall and an inner wall, the outer wall beingv constructed of hollow blocks andihorizonta'l mortar be'dshavinga circumferential reenforceme-nt comprisedv` of overlapping grid like metal sheets'.

7. A silo structure wherein there is an outer circularv wall and an" inner straight wall bonded'into the outer wall and dividing the inside of the structure intol large and small vertical" compartments, said' wall having an elongated door establishing communication between said compartments throughout substantially the height of the compartments, the large compartment com'- prising a silage chamber, while the other provides a chute for loading the silage chamber, the inner wall'being positioned to form obtuse angles at theinner side with the outer wall. A

8; A silo structure wherein there is an outer circular wall and an inner wall dividing the interior of the structureinto a silage chamber and chute chamber, the outer wall having a door opening at thebase thereof vand communicating with the chute chamber and the inner wall having an elongated door opening extending from above thefirst named door opening to substantially the top of the inner wall.

9..,A silo structure having an outer circular wall composedof hollow blocks laid on reenforced horizontal mortar-beds the con tinuity of the lower courses being broken by a door opening, an inner wall dividing the interior ofthe structure into two chambers and having the continuity of the upper courses broken by an elongated door opening., the mortar beds of the outer broken courses being bonded with the mortar beds of the unbrokenl courses ofthe inner wallfby expanded metal sheets laid in overlapping relationv in the mortar beds of'said'inner and outer courses.

10. -A' silo construction consistingY cfa symmetrical outer wall andan inner'chordal wall connected therewith, therebeing a'door opening through they o uter wall and a filling opening through the inner' wall, and circumferential reinforcementfor theI silo eX tending across the chordal wall opposite' `the openingjin the outer wall and" extending around" the outer wall opposite the opening in the inner: wall.

11. A silo havinga symmetricalouter wall made'up of hollow Vblocks rectangularin cross section andl laid" in` horizontal' courses with even horizontal `mortar beds between p said door, the reinfor'cementKbeing.'l formed around the outer' wall oppositetheopening through the; inner wall. y

12.y A silo* structure wherein' there isv an outer annular wall and anlinner wall, both walls `being',const'ructedof hollow'blocls laid on"horizontalmortarrbeds said'beds lyingfin common planes and havinga reenforcement comprised. of:` overlapping grid. like` metal sheets. i

13. A silo` structure wherein there is an outer circular wallanoll an inner straightwall bonded into. the outer wall and dividing'the inside of the structure into two compartments, one offsaid 'compartments comprising a silage chamber' and; having an elbngated door opening communicating with the other compartment'.

14.' A silo structure wherein there'v'is an outer circular wall and aniinner wall formed of'hollw tile" and* divid'ing'the'interior of l the' structure into" asilage chamber 'andr` chute chamber, thel outer wall havinga door openi'ngpat the base't'hereof and communicating with the chute chamber andthe inner wall having an elongated door opening, forming communication' between the two chambers, the mortar. beds of both walls lying beneath the inner door openingbeing interbonded and reinforced by grid like metal sheets y 15.` A silo structure having an outer circular wall composed of; rectangular tile laid on reenforced horizontalz mortar beds, the continuity of the lower-'courses being broken by a door opening; an inner wall dividing the interior of the structure intotwo cham"- bers andfhaving'the continuity ofthe upper courses broken by an elbngat'ed door opening, and" transverse. walls` interbonded with said inner and`v outer walls and positioned adacent'- the'y door openings.

16. A silo construction consisting of a symmetrical outer wall'andan innerchordal wa'll connected therewith, there bein'ga door opening through thel outer wall and" a illi ing opening through the inner.` wall", the fnnerteing positienedf lever than the; lar

ter and a circumferential reinforcement for the silo extending across the chordal wall but below the opening in the inner wall and extending around the outer wall but above the opening in the outer wall.

17. A silo having a symmetrical outer wall made up of hollow blocks rectangular' in cross section, laid in horizontal courses with even horizontal mortar beds between the courses, an inner hollow chordal wall bonding with the outer wall, an entrance opening through the outer wall and openings through the innei wall, flat perforated sheets of metal imbedded in the mortar beds and overlapping at their ends to form a continuous circumferential reinforcement, such reinforcement passing through the inner wall where the outer wall is broken by said door.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afHX 20 my signature.

FREDERICK HEATH. 

